Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Jakarta Metropolitan Police arrested two people during a student-led protest dubbed "Toward Indonesia Bankrupt" on Friday, June 12, after they were allegedly found carrying Molotov cocktails.
Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesperson Commissioner Budi Hermanto said the two individuals were detained near the Bendungan Hilir area in Central Jakarta and remain under investigation.
"The case is still being investigated," Budi said on Friday.
According to Budi, the arrests followed security screening and profiling operations conducted by police around the protest site.
"Officers identified several individuals attempting to join the student demonstration," he told reporters.
Police have not yet confirmed whether the two detainees were affiliated with the student protesters. Investigators from the Jakarta Police's General Crimes Directorate are continuing to question them.
The arrests took place amid a demonstration involving hundreds of students and members of civil society groups in Jakarta's Sudirman area.
The protest continued until around 10 p.m. after security forces blocked demonstrators from marching toward the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout, one of the capital's most prominent public spaces.
Yatalathof Ma'shum Imawan, chair of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), said protesters brought five key demands to the rally.
The demonstrators called on the government to reduce what they described as wasteful state spending, lower the prices of basic goods and fuel, halt the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program and the Red and White Village Cooperative initiative, and end what they called the militarization of civilian affairs.
They also urged President Prabowo Subianto to acknowledge what they view as policy failures and government mistakes.
"Stop militarism in civilian affairs, and finally, President Prabowo must stop avoiding responsibility and acknowledge the government's mistakes," Yatalathof said.
– Ricky Juliansyah contributed to the writing of this article.